Territory



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. J. BENEDICT.

TRUCK.

Patented July 12, 1887;

Emory JBeneaZicZ" m S S m H W Attorney N. PETERS. Phala-LilhognphenWashington. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheet s--Sheet 2.. E. J.BENEDIGT.

TRUCK.

No. 366,554. Patented July 12,1887.

Emory Llflcnedici JV'VLWTOR W1 TJVESSES .Ettorney PETERS.Phalwl-nhognpher, Washington a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMORY J. BENEDICT, OF DELL RAPIDS, DAKOTA TERRITORY.

TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,554, dated July 12,1887.

Application tiled April 1 1, 1887. Serial No. 231,812.

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMORY J. BENEDICT, a citizen ofthe United StatesofAmeriea, residing at Dell Rapids. in the county ofll/Iinnehaha andTerritory of Dakota,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inTrucks; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inhand-trucks, the object of my invention being to provide a simple,cheap, and effective hand-truck, which is so constructed that it may beused for handling boxes, barrels, and bags with the same facility astrucks designed for each special purpose; and the same consists in theconstruction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fullyset forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompany drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l is aperspective view of a hand-truck constructed in accordance with myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a frontview showing the bail or swinging nose thrown down in full lines andelevated in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of thehandle. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification.

A refers to the main or body portion of the truck, which is preferablymade of a single piece of board of the requisite thickness and width.The sides of this board are cut away or curved inwardly to form acentral handle portion, the sides of which are parallel with each other,and to the terminal portion of which is secured a handle portion, B,which consists of side pieces, b, of malleable metal, which are providedwith inturned portions 1), which have openings, through which screwspass for attaching the same to the handle. These side pieces, I) b, areconnected to each other by a cross-bar, which forms a suitable handgrasping device.

(No model.)

To the under side of the wide end of the board A, which forms the bodyportion of the truck, is attached, by suitable bolts, adownwardly-projecting support or bearing for the shaft or axle, whichextends across the end ofthe board A. This axle support or bearing maybe struck up ofasingle piece ofsl1eet metal. to the ends of which aresecured wedge shaped pieces by any suitable means, the lower edge beingcurved, so that theinner edge will correspond with the diameter of theaxle. while the upper edge is flanged outwardly and provided withopenings, through which the ends of the securing-bolts pass, as fullyshown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. Instead ofstrikingthis axle bearing orsupport up out of sheet metal, I may employ a solidwedge-shaped transverse block, as shown in Fig. 5, which can be embracednear each end by a bail, which will pass through the board A and throughthe attachments on the upper portion of the truck, so as to hold them inposition, above which the securing-nuts are located.

0 refers to the axle, which is suitably supported in bearings, ashereinbefore described, and said axle may be free to rotate in saidbearings. Upon the projecting ends of the axle are mounted wheels D D,said wheels being secured upon the axle by pins d, which pass throughperforations therein. Between the bearing for the axle and the wheelsare located washers 6.

It will be observed that both the axle and wheels are free to revolve,though, if desired, I may construct the parts so that the axle will bestationary and the wheels revolve thereon, or vice versa.

E refers to the points, which are secured to the upper edge of the lowerend of the truck by the same bolts which secure the axle-bearingthereto. The base of these points, which are at substantially rightangles with the projecting portion, are provided on their under sideswith recesses f, which extend from one end thereof to a point where theyare provided IOO passes through the same. Beneath away, so as to giveample play for the springs.

The swinging nose or bail G is provided with inturned ends, which engagewith recesses f, hereinbefore referred to, and these inturned ends havetwo-of their sides formed at right angles to each other, so that thespring which bears upon the same will hold the swinging nose or baileither against the points E or flat upon the truck.

A truck constructed in accordance with my improvements, as shown in theaccompanying drawings, may be used for handling boxes, barrels, or bags,and having but one handle it can be advantageously used in movingarticles around counters or in a crowded room. In moving barrels orboxes it is only necessary to move the truck against said box, so as tolet the points bear against the barrel or box,when it may be tilted uponthe truck, the points preventing the barrel or box sliding or rollingoff in any direction.

When handling bags or articles which the points would be liable todamage, the swinging nose or bail can be swung in posit-ion, so as toproject beyond the points, and said bail will be held in whateverposition it may be placed by the springs, hereinbefore referred to.

The axle-bearing on the under side of the truck not only forms a supportfor the axle, but also re-enforces and strengthens the bottom portionagainst splitting,and it will be observed that the same bolts whichsecuietheaxle-supportin position also hold the points to the upperportion of the truck;

these springs F the upper edge of the boardAis out 1. In a hand-truck,the combination of the body, the wheelaxle secured in bearings beneaththe body, the points E, secured to the upper surface of the body by thebolts which secure the bearings, and a swinging bail hav-.

'ing inturned ends, which are journaled in re cesses formed in the undersurfaces of the bases of points E, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a hand-truck, of the points E, provided above thebottom portion, A, with recesses f and f, a spring, F, and bail G,having inturned ends with angular faces, against which the springcontacts, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a hand-truck constructed substantially asdescribed, of a transverse a'xle-support, bolts for attaching saidaxle-support to the body portion of the truck, and points E, providedwith perforations through which bolts pass, a spring, F, secured underthe portions E by one of the aforesaid bolts, and a swinging bail, G,substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with a hand truck constructed substantially asdescribed, of a handle, B, consisting of parallel side pieces havinginturned portions b and ahand-grasping cross bar, substantially asshown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, EMORY J. BENEDICT. Witnesses:

GEO. E. MICHAEL, ROY RoYoE.

